After spending the last five years directing the Naval Academy Prep School wrestling program, three-time NCAA qualifier and 2011 All-American Mike Letts returns to Annapolis as a member of the Navy wrestling coaching staff it was announced by fifth-year head coach Joel Sharratt in August of 2018. Letts will also serve as an instructor in the Physical Education Department.
During his previous stint in Annapolis, Letts helped lead Navy to a 6-6 record in 2012 and saw the Mids place fifth at the EIWA Championship and 48th at the NCAA Championship. A year later, Navy amassed a 6-1 record, narrowly missing a perfect dual mark by just four points in a 19-15 loss to nationally-ranked Lehigh. Additionally, led by the performance of 2013 EIWA Champion Dan Miller at heavyweight, the Mids took second at the EIWA Championship which was the program’s best finish since taking second in 2006-07.
Letts played an integral part in transitioning Mathew Miller from the high school circuit into a Div. I wrestler his freshman season. Miller went on to win an EIWA title (174 pounds in 2014), win the Billy Sheridan Memorial Award for the most pins in the least amount of time (Navy’s first since 1992) and earn All-America honors in 2016.
As the head coach at NAPS, Letts helped prepare countless student-athletes prior to their arrival in Annapolis. Among those midshipmen are numerous NCAA qualifiers, including 2018 graduates Jadaen Bernstein, Drew Daniels and Steban Cervantes, 2018-19 senior team captain and two-time qualifier Nicholas Gil, along with two-time qualifier Jared Prince who enters his junior year. Bernstein graduated as one of the most decorated wrestlers in school history, winning the 174-pound EIWA Championship in 2015, posting the eighth-most wins in program history (113) and becoming just the seventh. wrestler in program history to qualify for the NCAA Championship four times.
A 2011 graduate of the University of Maryland with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, Letts spent five years in College Park wrestling for former Terrapins coach Pat Santoro, now at Lehigh, and the last three years under the guidance of Kerry McCoy. Letts was a three-time ACC Champion, winning the 174-pound title as a freshman (2006-07), sophomore (2007-08) and senior (2010-11) and in each of those seasons punched his ticket to compete on the ultimate stage, the NCAA Championship. Â
Letts began his career by producing a 31-7 record as a rookie, including an 18-3 dual mark, and becoming the Terps’ first true freshman to advance to the NCAA Tournament since 1990. A year later he claimed his second ACC title via an undefeated mark in conference action and qualified for his second-straight NCAA Tournament appearance behind a 23-6 record. He also garnered ACC Scholar-Athlete recognition in his sophomore season.
As a junior in 2008-09, Letts stepped away from team competition and spent the season dominating the open tournament circuit where he put together a 26-3 record. He opened the year winning his first 16 matches and won titles at Eastern Michigan, NC State, East Stroudsburg and Penn State.
He returned to the Maryland lineup in 2009-10, but an injury suffered in January would end his season prematurely. Ranked as high ast No. 4 during the season, he closed out the year with a 19-4 record.
Letts came back strong and enjoyed his most successful season as a senior. Voted by his peers to serve as Maryland’s team captain, he put together his second 30-win season, boasting a 32-8 record which featured a 15-2 mark in dual action. He began he final season by capturing wins in 15 of his first 16 matches. Letts earned a 4-2 victory over fourth-ranked Chris Henrich of Virginia to win his third ACC title and was named the 2010-11 ACC Tournament Most Outstanding Wrestler. He went on post a 4-2 record and seventh-place finish at the NCAA Championship, which featured a 9-2 victory over eighth-ranked Nick Heflin of Ohio State to clinch All-America honors.
Letts closed out his collegiate career with a 131-28 record, including a 59-11 dual mark.
